Paradise is Burning

Laura, 16, Mira, 12, and Steffi, 7, live alone. Her mother disappears for long periods of time and they, in a working-class neighborhood, lead a wild, carefree life in a home that is messy and chaotic, but fundamentally happy. When social services want to arrange a visit, Laura decides to hide it from her sisters and fix the situation herself without worrying Mira or Steffi. The solution seems to be to find a replacement for her mother, but as the moment of truth approaches, new tensions force the three sisters to negotiate the fine line that separates the euphoria of freedom from the harsh reality of growing up. .

'Paradise is Burning' is Mika Gustafson's feature film debut and it is much more than just any coming-of-age film: it is also about being a portrait of female autonomy and the strength of family ties. It articulates themes such as the fraternal relationship, identity, or the pressures of certain socio-economic situations. The film has emerged as the big winner of the 59th edition of the Swedish Film Awards, the Guldbagge, presented annually by the Swedish Academy of Cinematographic Arts.

It stars Bianca Del Bravo, Dilvin Asaad, Safira Mossberg, Ida Engvoll, Mitja Siren and Marta Oldenburg.